The Los Angeles City Council voted on Oct. 20, 2000, to offer a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the recent murder of a community activist. The reward motion was introduced as Special Item No. 1 because the homicide occurred after the meeting agenda had been posted.

Council members said the reward was intended to encourage tips to the Los Angeles Police Department. The clerk read the motion amount during the meeting; the roll call on the motion was recorded as 11 ayes and the motion was approved forthwith.

During the public-comment period that followed, a speaker asked the council to remember James Richards, identified as a recently murdered community activist, and also named Pedro Benagas, an activist killed about two years earlier in Northridge. The commenter said both were targeted because of their community work.

The council’s action created a publicly posted reward offer to assist the police investigation; the motion did not list additional conditions, investigators or a deadline in the public record of the meeting.